accents

I demand a recount. Did you know that Missouri just got dinged for having the least desirable accent in the known universe? It's true although I'll admit saying "universe" might be a little bit of an exaggeration.

Does Missouri really have a discernable accent? I believe I can prove it does with some science and viewpoints of those who don't live in Missouri, too.

Does Missouri have an accent? It depends on who you ask.

Wow. You'd think that the only people who'd find the Chicago accent sexy would be people who've...well...never heard it.

Yesterday in this space, I asked if you speak with a Rockford accent (click here if you missed it). I gave you a bunch of examples of the way we here in Rockford tend to pronounce things. We like to think of ourselves as accent-less folk, but according to the results of a study a few years ago by Harvard University, we're wrong...

You're probably thinking, "I don't have an accent. I'm from Rockford, Illinois, and we don't have accents here." I used to think the same thing, but it turns out, we couldn't be more wrong. We do have an accent (or dialect) here in Rockford, and as it turns out, so does our state ...

I can see how being told that your accent "proves that you're not very intelligent" could be a bit annoying. Not being a southerner, I've never been told that my accent demonstrates stupidity (things I've said, yes), but I've heard others say it about those who prefer "y'all" to "you all...